Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Cangiano.
Jeremy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey was a lot of small moments and hobby-building as a kid. I was only in middle school in 2006, which is when I got my first point and shoot camera from my parents, and on top of having no formal classes or training until much later, I can’t say it was a class or anything formal like that got me started.
The initial interest came from childhood and seeing the work my Uncle Richard and Grandfather Charlie did: Richard was a photographer, and my Grandfather did painting and graphic design. I relied mostly on pure curiosity and my personal interest to get me started; I would spend lots of time online watching videos and learning from other photographers, and I had a support from other friends who I met over the years who were also into photography.
A turning point was moving from that first point and shoot to a Nikon DSLR; my parents agreed to help me get this Nikon DSLR as an early birthday gift. I knew by then that I wanted photograph to be a serious hobby.
I was lucky enough to work at a summer camp with this friend, Max Trombly, who now has a very successful photography business of his own. He gave me a lot of the foundational knowledge I needed to keep messing around and start to build my own real style and technique.
And there were a few really great opportunities early on that fueled passion and validation in what I was doing. I remember most vividly getting this shot of my sister’s high school graduation in 2007; everyone was doing the traditional cap-tossing at the end.
The local paper actually asked to buy it from me and then used it in their coverage of the event that week. It was a little surreal at that age and drove me to keep seeking out opportunities to practice throughout high school (including a classic stint on the Yearbook Staff).
The last four or five years is really where things accelerated from hobby to want to do this professionally. By the time I graduated high school in 2012, I had a solid amount of hobbyist experience under my belt, but I knew I wanted to go further. I did camera sales for a bit to immerse myself in the hardware / technical side of the business.
And while I work on my undergraduate degree in business I’ve been doing customer support for a few technology companies which has been extremely valuable in building a specific skill set for working with people and understanding their unique needs.
Cangiano Photography officially launched this year as the next step I’ve been working towards for a long time. It’s been thrilling taking a former hobby and being able to realize a true profession out of it. I feel fortunate that my work and my personal passion are one and the same.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with anything, learning how to balance your time and put your focus 110% into what you do is hard work. Especially because I was so young when all of this started.
More times than not, I was the friend who stayed in. I devoted a lot of my time to practicing editing technique, building a website, putting together business plans, or fostering professional connections with other photographers. Juggling school with building my business was and is a struggle, but not in a bad way. It’s taught me great focus. And when you fill your time with something you are passionate about, it makes the sacrifices worth it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Cangiano Photography – what should we know?
This day in age, we all have the power to easily capture the special moments, people, and places in our lives. What isn’t easy is finding and emphasizing those little details that can make a moment in time really stand out. “Detail is everything” is a mantra I’ve tried to build my brand around.
It’s why that’s the first thing you’ll see on my website. Those smallest details separate just snapping a picture from capturing a real memory, and this detail-focus is what I take great pride in and what I think sets my work apart. Not just the photography itself, but also the details of customer service, of working with people and providing them a great experience. It all goes hand and hand.
In terms of specific work, I focus mostly on event and wedding photography and also do portraits from time to time. This past year I had the amazing opportunity to cover the Boston Comedy Festival over four days, combining event work with portrait work for some of the country’s rising comics.
The experience let me blend multiple styles of photography with my personal passion for stand up comedy, and the chance to get to know each of the comics on professional and personal levels. When I think about detail and how I work to set my business apart, that project is something I think showcases my unique approach.
Using the relationships I built with each comic–taking the time to understand their personal and professional personalities, not just covering the event–let me capture the event and their individual acts in a way that tells a story visually, even for people that weren’t there. It represents the spirit I bring to any project I get involved with.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
People have often mentioned my personality. I work really hard to connect with people and build genuine relationships; this isn’t just a job for me, it’s a way to connect with people and make an impact. When I look back, I actually owe a lot of that to photography itself.
Growing up I always felt different and somehow closed off. I had trouble interacting socially, and it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disability. Sometimes it can be harder for me to pick up on the smaller details in conversation that other people take for granted.
I never let that define me, but I know for a fact that photography was my literal lens into the world of others. Through photography, I could express my view of the world in a way I had not been able to before. It helped me make connections with other people in a way I always wanted to, be it with other photographers or with the people I worked with.
I guess in this sense the real characteristic that has made me successful is perseverance. Without it, I would not have been able to find my own path in photography and also use it to become the person I am today. Do what you love, do not give up, and do it with passion. I think that always leads to not only successful work but success in realizing your own personal potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cangianophotography.com
- Email: jeremy@cangianophotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cangianophotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cangianophotography/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cangianophotos
Image Credit:
Jade Brewer
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